In summary: Multi-level marketing scams have been around for about 70 years, and in the vast majority of them, 99 percent of "consultants" lose money.In summary: Multi-level marketing scams have been around for about 70 years, and in the vast majority of them, 99 percent of "consultants" lose money. MLMs are like a casino but less fun. If somebody keeps talking to you about a "business opportunity" and "mentoring" and retiring in one's 20s or 30s, and they are cagey about telling you the name of the business or the product, don't give them a dime. If you become part of an MLM, your real tasks are to buy motivational books and recordings and services and to recruit other people to join the MLM. Most of the products go unsold because they aren't any better than similar items sold in stores. ________________________
I found this a little slow to start, but I ended up enthralled. Bridget Read (apt name for an author) has written a sort of grand unified theory of pyramid selling/multilevel marketing/social marketing. She explores its origins and how it has spread and metastasized to China, Russia, and elsewhere. There are certainly innovations and tweaks along the way—what Herbalife distributors in Mexico are doing with "nutrition clubs" is fascinating—but I was a bit startled to find out that authors, motivational coaches, and podcasters are STILL ripping off Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) and his book Think and Grow Rich. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, I guess.
Read's main focuses are Amway, Herbalife, and Mary Kay, which are the older schemes. Some more recent MLMs, such as Rodan + Fields and the "pink drink" people, get only a brief mention. Even Tupperware gets only a few mentions. There are so many MLMs these days that she can't cover them all. I wish she had discussed LuLaRoe, a case in which the government did intervene and the company pretty much collapsed.
Naturally, Read spends a lot of time interviewing people at the bottom of the pyramid so we can learn about their high hopes and then their debt and despair and awakening. But she also describes how some of the folks in the middle of the pyramid—the ones with the mansions and fancy cars and other conspicuous consumption—actually make pitiful incomes and are in enormous amounts of debt. I do feel a little sympathy for them, even when they are actively exploiting people at the bottom....more
Intelligent, appealing essays on a gruesome subject. The author makes some quirky choices. Sure, Elizabeth Borden is in here, but so is Anne Boleyn, aIntelligent, appealing essays on a gruesome subject. The author makes some quirky choices. Sure, Elizabeth Borden is in here, but so is Anne Boleyn, and she was executed with a sword rather than being murdered with an axe. Also, there is extensive information on axes found in tombs, which may not have been used to murder anyone ever....more
I don't remember who recommended this to me, but I'm glad they did. Hard-boiled, very violent crime novel with a female detective. The language is verI don't remember who recommended this to me, but I'm glad they did. Hard-boiled, very violent crime novel with a female detective. The language is very Scottish (I had forgotten what stoatin and glaikit mean and had to look them up), but this one is worth the effort....more
Apocalyptic horror novel with social commentary. Very repetitive. I didn't love that the author introduces what appears to be the main character and tApocalyptic horror novel with social commentary. Very repetitive. I didn't love that the author introduces what appears to be the main character and then we don't hear about that character again for hundreds of pages....more
Becky Whetstone is a marriage counselor who sprays her clients with water if they use the word "selfish"! And she uses the word once in the book and sBecky Whetstone is a marriage counselor who sprays her clients with water if they use the word "selfish"! And she uses the word once in the book and says it's OK for her to use it! So I do not think this lady will be my marriage counselor if I ever need one, but she's been divorced a couple of times herself and gives what I think is good advice.
The main takeaway I got from this is that separation can be a good thing, not just a stepping stone to inevitable divorce. Separation allows everybody time and space to think and process instead of letting emotions rule everything. And it gives the person who initiates the divorce (Whetstone calls this person the Decider) time to miss the person who is resisting the divorce (the Leaning-In partner).
Brett Favre stole. Brett Favre stole money. Brett Favre stole taxpayers' money. Brett Favre stole taxpayers' money that was supposed to go to poor peopleBrett Favre stole. Brett Favre stole money. Brett Favre stole taxpayers' money. Brett Favre stole taxpayers' money that was supposed to go to poor people. Brett Favre stole taxpayers' money that was supposed to go to poor people in Mississippi, which is generally considered the poorest state in the Union and contains the per capita murder capital of the United States. Brett Favre did all this stuff and texted messages that made it clear he knew he was doing illegal things and didn't want the public to find out about them. Brett Favre stole millions for himself and so his daughter could have a nice volleyball court at her university. After the scandal came to light, Brett Favre sued the state auditor for defamation. The state auditor wrote a book about the whole thing. And it's very interesting! I wish Shad White (it's short for Shadrack) had written a tick-tock on this crime instead of adding lots of information about himself, his family, and those who wronged him. But if I had a book contract, I would probably write those things too. The scariest and most sordid thing about this whole scary, sordid story is that White believes that TANF money (for poor people) is being squandered in many other states—maybe in every state. And he may be right. The only reason I ever heard about this scandal is that a big-deal professional athlete was involved and he acted appallingly. I can see other TANF scandals, with no celebrity involvement and less outrageous purchasing, flying under the radar. Kudos to White for noticing and generously crediting the hard work of his staff, from investigators to the office receptionist....more
I did not expect a nonfiction book to have so many cliffhangers. I knew a bit about QAnon from news reports and a documentary series, but here's what I did not expect a nonfiction book to have so many cliffhangers. I knew a bit about QAnon from news reports and a documentary series, but here's what I learned from this book:
• There is little research or knowledge on the topic of counseling young children who have been watching apocalyptic QAnon videos on their mother's or father's lap since infancy. It's difficult enough when a child finds out about the death of a favorite relative, but it's even worse when the child believes another relative murdered that person by encouraging them to get a vaccine.
• If you fall down the Q rabbit hole and rage at your children, writing insults like "shed my DNA," they may not ever be willing to communicate with you again. Yes, even if you change your life and stop believing in Q and ask nicely for a truce.
• If your spouse gets into Q, antagonizes everyone you know, refuses vaccines, and ends up in severe pain from a treatable illness, you might eventually get them to accept medical treatment and treat you more kindly. It's an exhausting process. But they may not come all the way back. There may always be some amazing new video that they want to show you.
The author didn't ask for my opinion, but I'll give it anyway: He should have left her the first time she hit him. She hit him in the chest, she assauThe author didn't ask for my opinion, but I'll give it anyway: He should have left her the first time she hit him. She hit him in the chest, she assaulted him with a Yankee Candle, and she dug her nails into his arm so hard that he bled. She told him that for years she had wished he would die, preferably in a bicycle accident. These are the actions of someone who has broken the covenant of marriage, regardless of whether she had sex with someone else. Which she did. If the roles were reversed, just about everybody would say that she should divorce him. But instead he tries to play things for laughs and flails around and embarrasses her and himself. And he let her write a chapter of this book, which I assume means she gets some of whatever profits there turn out to be. Someday their kids will read this book if they haven't already. What a shame for everyone involved....more
Tawdry, sleazy, morally bankrupt true crime with a patina of religiosity, written by someone with a DPhil from Oxford, so it has a bunch of ShakespearTawdry, sleazy, morally bankrupt true crime with a patina of religiosity, written by someone with a DPhil from Oxford, so it has a bunch of Shakespeare quotations in it. I loved it. Many true crime books are whodunits, but this one focuses on how the murder was accomplished and where the body was. (We find out both at about the 70 percent mark, but there's plenty to keep a reader occupied before that.) If you are already upset about unfair stereotypes of Floridians, Baptists, and Floridian Baptists, do yourself a favor and skip this one....more
Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker staff writer and winner of the Pulitzer Prize, conducted more than 300 in-depth interviews on the topic of . . . reality teEmily Nussbaum, New Yorker staff writer and winner of the Pulitzer Prize, conducted more than 300 in-depth interviews on the topic of . . . reality television?! The title is a bit of a cheat because it comes from the movie The Truman Show. But the whole thing is written well and held my interest, even though I haven't seen some of the shows Nussbaum writes about. (But I have seen a lot of them. Even The Gong Show.) I didn't know that the whole reality vs. scripted conflict goes all the way back to radio, when people complained that writers and actors and musicians were being thrown out of work by a show called—I'm not kidding—Candid Microphone....more
I laughed out loud about two dozen times. This is especially impressive because some of the essays are quite sad. What is it like when your dad is a sI laughed out loud about two dozen times. This is especially impressive because some of the essays are quite sad. What is it like when your dad is a spy? Lonely. What is it like to be a little kid in Florida? Rather shitty, especially when your mom is poor and refuses to get rid of her abusive, erratic boyfriend. What is it like when your mom accidentally burns down the house she was in the process of selling? Well, your relationship with her certainly isn't going to get better.
DeRuiter seems to be a thoroughgoing optimist now, which surprised me given the circumstances of her upbringing. It sounds as if she married a delightful man, which certainly sweetens life. And she has never been on a diet. And she got a book deal! And I think she and/or her husband might be extremely rich?
One of the essay titles made me gasp: "Bikini Body of Christ." So if you find that title blasphemous or otherwise offensive, that may be a sign that this essay collection is not for you....more
I love this series. Fast-paced plots, appealing characters, and so funny. I didn't know that I wanted humor in my mystery novels! I'm sad that this isI love this series. Fast-paced plots, appealing characters, and so funny. I didn't know that I wanted humor in my mystery novels! I'm sad that this is the last in the series so far, but the author has promised to write at least one more....more
3.5 stars, rounded up. While this is an interesting story, it really should have been a long-form article rather than a book. (I can't blame the autho3.5 stars, rounded up. While this is an interesting story, it really should have been a long-form article rather than a book. (I can't blame the author for snagging a book deal, though.) I skimmed the middle section. A medical student pretends to be a man online. She ends up in romantic, passionate, volatile, manipulative online relationships with a sociologist, a psychologist, an architect, and many other highly accomplished women. To avoid seeing these dupes or even talking to them on the phone, she fakes cancer, the death of a sibling, and many other tragedies. The scammer was outed years before the publication of this book but has never faced any real penalty for her scams—mostly because she did not try to persuade anyone to give her money. She is still a practicing doctor today and has a prestigious job where she works with pregant women and their children....more
I came for the absurd title and for the funny messages the author has published on Twitter. (She responds enthusiastically to romance fraudsters, tellI came for the absurd title and for the funny messages the author has published on Twitter. (She responds enthusiastically to romance fraudsters, tells them she is a murderer and/or a cannibal, and then sends them photos of her in a helicopter or on a boat and tells them she's coming to see them in person so they can be together forever. They respond with panic, horror, and disgust.) I stayed for the compassionate and practical advice.
What I learned:
• Romance fraudsters often pretend to be military officers or oil-rig workers. These folks travel internationally, are gone for long periods, and are in physically risky jobs, all of which help the fraudsters manipulate others.
• Romance fraudsters and abusive partners share many characteristics, including sudden outbursts, abusive comments, and long periods of the silent treatment followed by love bombing. So people who have been in abusive relationships in the past may be more vulnerable to online romance fraudsters.
• The author thinks it's cruel to say that someone "fell for" a romance scam. She points out that we don't usually say that someone "fell for" a burglary.
• The public are becoming more aware of romance scams, but there's still a ton of victim blaming, which causes many scam victims to avoid coming forward out of embarrassment.
• Women (or people pretending to be women) perpetrate romance frauds on men, but this book is about the ladies.
Rhyming poems in the Scots language, confidently read by the poet. Often somber but with some optimism and joy, especially near the end of the book. ARhyming poems in the Scots language, confidently read by the poet. Often somber but with some optimism and joy, especially near the end of the book. AH'M nae greetin, YE'RE greetin....more
I read this because of the strong ratings on Goodreads and was not disappointed. Rapid-fire plot and some appealing dialogue. My one complaint is thatI read this because of the strong ratings on Goodreads and was not disappointed. Rapid-fire plot and some appealing dialogue. My one complaint is that the author spoils the endings of the four best Agatha Christie novels in one paragraph, to which I say BOO HISS....more
I don't remember who recommended this, but I'm glad they did. Very dark, even for a mystery. There is animal abuse and human abuse. There's also effecI don't remember who recommended this, but I'm glad they did. Very dark, even for a mystery. There is animal abuse and human abuse. There's also effective character development and some good twists. I'm annoyed that the marketing copy describes one of the characters as a "gun nut." He goes to shooting ranges. It's a sport. I'm not good at it, but it's still a sport....more
I love oral histories. Even fake ones. This is a short, fast-moving novel about the fallout from a reality TV show that chronicled a number of crimes,I love oral histories. Even fake ones. This is a short, fast-moving novel about the fallout from a reality TV show that chronicled a number of crimes, each one more surprising than the last. Characters are distinct and differentiated—my favorites were Olivia (one of the best friends) and the little brother—but this is mostly plot plot plot, and I say right on. I enjoyed the fact that one of the plot twists is hinted at but never quite resolved. That's tricky to accomplish. And yes, there is some bloviating about how terrible it is that people love crime shows and crime novels and isn't it a terrible addiction. I mean, why do people like it? Why do I like it? Wouldn't I be better off reading something uplifting? I mean, probably, but I'm not giving up ice cream sandwiches either....more
"The screaming was much louder than I had anticipated." —Cassidy Hutchinson, former special assistant to the president, describing what it was like to"The screaming was much louder than I had anticipated." —Cassidy Hutchinson, former special assistant to the president, describing what it was like to stand outside the Oval Office
This had way more horror-movie elements than I had anticipated.
Summary: Cassidy Hutchinson says she chose a life of public service to advance the policies she believed in (which she cannot or will not describe except in the vaguest terms), to increase bipartisanship (in what turned out to be one of the most partisan administrations in U.S. history), to support her colleagues (who overworked, assaulted, insulted, and abandoned her), and to live the values of her parents (whom she despises, and with good reason).
Horror-movie elements:
• Little-kid Cassidy feels sad when her dad repeatedly breaks his promises to her and her little brother, but then her dad tells her that he has left her and brother a special surprise for them in their mailbox. She unwraps the foil package and finds two deer hearts, still warm, dripping with blood.
• Teenage Cassidy wakes up in so much pain that she pees in her bed. She calls both parents and begs for help, but they refuse. One doesn't want to be disturbed while on vacation, and the other one has been sh¡tty to her for her whole life. Neither of them believes in doctors, whatever that means. She drives herself to the hospital and is immediately treated for appendicitis.
• On January 6, Rudy Giuliani sexually assaults her. Her description of his cold fingertips creeping up her thighs is nauseating. I found myself wishing that she had belted him with one of the binders she was always carrying, so he would have crumbed into dust.
• Matt Gaetz exists.
Funny parts in a serious book:
• Donald Trump gives her hairstyling tips. She submits to his will, but the results don't flatter her. (Now that I think about it, that last sentence describes this whole book.)
• Mark Meadows's staff accidentally gets him drunk. While he's out sick with Covid, they leave White Claws in his fridge and forget to remove them. He comes back and pounds a couple of them (the White Claws, not the staffers) because he is Southern Baptist and has never previously had a drink in his life and doesn't know from White Claw. He offers a third can to his colleague, a Latter-Day Saint, who is Not Pleased. The whole thing is acutely embarrassing and Meadows manages to avoid Trump until sobering up.
• Debbie Meadows (Mrs. Mark) is so stupid that she tells Hutchinson to forbid Mark from burning things in his office fireplace. He's done this so often that his suits all stink and she can't keep up with the dry cleaning. It never occurs to Deb to wonder why Mark is burning stacks and stacks and stacks of documents at work.
• Governor Ron DeSantis is such a self-obsessed ninnyhammer that Hutchinson scolds him for asking for special favors and wasting everyone's time, and he apologizes profusely.
• There is a thwarted attempt to pardon Kimberly Guilfoyle's gynecologist.
Unanswered questions:
• What is Cassidy Hutchinson going to do with the rest of her life?
• Is her father actually mentally ill, or does he just feign mental illness when someone asks for help or expects him to be responsible about something, or is he just a complete sh¡tstain with no redeeming qualities?
• Have her family members abandoned her since she published this book, or are they not capable of reading it?
My verdict: The first 15 percent of this book, which covers Hutchinson's childhood and young adulthood, is weak. I don't know if she just couldn't bear to talk about her childhood or if the editors didn't leave enough time for this part to be fleshed out fully. Her descriptions of working in the White House are interesting and compelling. Her descriptions of her testimony and its aftermath are a little bit self-aggrandizing, but on the other hand she was only 25 when she wrote the book and had been through a lot. It is appealing to see someone actually learn from history—during her crisis, Hutchinson becomes obsessed with former Nixon aide Alexander Butterfield and models her actions and demeanor on his.
Hutchinson seems like a hard worker and a hard drinker. I hope she finds better friends and colleagues and is able to lead a peaceful life. She has bought herself a dog, which is a good start....more